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WASHINGTON (WNEW) — Former D.C. mayor Marion Barry signed copies of his new book, “Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry Jr.,” at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington on Thursday night.

Barry, a current D.C. Councilmember, provided a spoiler to his book to the packed house of supporters, saying one of the greatest attributes he got from his late mother was to always tell the truth.

“It’s a truthful book … Some people say it’s too truthful,” Barry told the crowd.

Novelest Omar Tyree spoke about the collaboration with Barry, saying it was a project he was thrilled to be a part of.

“I’m not here to write any ridiculous story about you that beats you down,” Tyree says. “I’m not here to do that.”

Written with Tyree, the book covers Barry’s upbringing, involvement in the Civil Rights movement and his four decades in D.C. politics.

Barry served four terms as mayor. His first three terms ended after a 1990 drug bust at a downtown hotel. In the book, he portrays that incident as a sideshow, rooted in his efforts to upend white political and economic privilege. Barry was elected mayor again in 1994.